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Eritrea Vocational Skills Training


Building upon a successful pilot phase (2017-2019), Switzerland will continue to contribute to two well established NGO-ted initiatives on technical and vocational education and training in Eritrea. The initiatives aim at improving the quality of teaching in targeted vocational skills institutions and testing the possibility of engaging in entrepreneurial activities. Ultimately the goal is to contribute to giving better life perspectives and job-opportunities to young Eritreans in their home country.

Country/region Topic Period Budget
Eritrea
Vocational training
Employment & economic development
Education
Vocational training
Employment creation
Education facilities and training
Teacher training
01.09.2020 - 31.05.2025
 CHF  4’250’000
The project in brief
Background The Eritrean economy is controlled by the state and the private sector is almost non-existent. The national service (military and civilian) keeps young people between 18 and 40 in —state attributed- employment with very little pay arid perspectives. This situation remains the main driver of asylum applications of young Eritreans in Europe, including in Switzerland. The Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector suffers from many shortcomings: underqualified teachers, outdated teaching methods and material, insufficient teachlng infrastructure, inefficient strategic and institutional embedment, very limited outreach.
Objectives  To contribute to better life perspectives and job-opportunities for young Eritreans in their home-country through supporting vocational skills and micro entrepreneurship initiatives.
Target groups

Main target groups: the teachers and other staff of the targeted schools, the National Confederation of Eritrean Workers, the Department of TVET under the Ministry

Ultimate beneficiaries: learners in the TVE centers (about 1000 youth and 300 employed workers)
Medium-term outcomes

Outcome 1: The targeted training institutions deliver services of improved quality to their students.

Outcome 2: The trained young women and men improve their positions in employment, with some initiating entrepreneurial activities
Results

Expected results:   Revision of curricula, development of learning modules for soft skills (such as entrepreneurial skills), rehabilitation of learning infrastructure, equipping young graduates with a kit (basic tools, microcredits) to start up their entrepreneurial activities; about 1000 youth and 3000 employed workers benefitting from teaching of increased quality.


Results from previous phases:  

- about 2,000 young people benefited from improved training in the formal TVET centers receiving technical assistance by the partners;

- Switzerland acquired a better understanding of the local situation, access to government offices, as well as a basis of trust for further collaboration
Directorate/federal office responsible SDC
Credit area Development cooperation
Project partners Contract partner
International or foreign NGO
Private sector
Swiss Non-profit Organisation
  • Other international or foreign NGO North
  • Other Swiss Non-profit Organisation
  • Swiss Private Sector


Coordination with other projects and actors National Confederation of Eritrean Workers; Ministry of Education/ Department of Technical and Vocational Education and Training; UNDP Eritrea Vocational Skills Training Programme (currently on hold), potentially new activities financed by the SEM
Budget Current phase Swiss budget CHF    4’250’000 Swiss disbursement to date CHF    2’808’446
Project phases Phase 2 01.09.2020 - 31.05.2025   (Current phase) Phase 1 01.10.2017 - 30.04.2021   (Completed)
  • Sector according to the OECD Developement Assistance Commitiee categorisation EDUCATION
    EDUCATION
    OTHER SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND SERVICES
    EDUCATION
    Sub-Sector according to the OECD Developement Assistance Commitiee categorisation
    Vocational training
    Education facilities and training
    Employment policy and administrative management
    Education facilities and training
    Teacher training
    Aid Type Mandate without fiduciary fund
    Project and programme contribution
    Project number

    7F09828

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Last update 23.01.2021